This power line not welcome
Ghordor (Kullu), February 12
Villagers, including apple orchardists, in the valley are up in arms against the high-tension 220-kv transmission line being installed by Allian and Duhangan (AD) hydropower company. It will be a life hazard and affect the beauty and tourism potential of the valley, villagers claim.

Irrigation and Drinking Water SchemesNo foundation stone till fund allocation
Shimla, February 12
In order to ensure that all irrigation and drinking water schemes see the light of the day, the government has decided that foundation stones would be laid only after budgetary provision is made for the purpose.

47 HPS officers transferred
Shimla, February 12
The government today ordered the transfer of 47 Himachal Police Service (HPS) officers.
Saju Ram Rana, ASP, Chamba, will go as such to Solan while Rajender Singh Bhatia, ASP,
Shimla, has been posted as ASP (Railway and Traffic), Shimla.

Two IAS officers shifted, too
Shimla, February 12
The government today ordered the transfer of two IAS officers. C. Palrasu has been posted as Director, Elementary Education, in place of B.M. Nanta. He was presently ADC, Mandi, awaiting posting.

Centre okays another IRB
Releases Rs 12.5 croreShimla, February 12
The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned a new India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for Himachal along with a financial assistance of Rs 12.50 crore as the raising cost.

Tamil Nadu-based firm dupes residents of lakhs
Kangra, February 12
Hundreds of people of this town and those living in the outskirts here were allegedly cheated and fraudulently deprived of cash by a Tamil Nadu based group. They had established a trade centre in the Jayanti Vihar locality of the town, which was found, closed today leaving nearly 500 investors in a lurch.

Auto operators call off strike
Solan, February 12
The four-day strike of three-wheeler operators ended today with their union agreeing to ply vehicles after receiving an assurance from the administration. Though the negotiations between the union and the administration were under way to chalk out an amicable solution, auto operators were seen carrying four passengers as against the prescribed norm of three.

PVSM for 2 from Shimla
Shimla, February 12
Two top defence officers hailing from the city have been awarded the Param Vishista Sewa Medal
(PVSM) this year. Both, Lieut-Gen Hardev Singh Lidder and Air Marshal Jai Krishan Gupta, are of the same age and alumni of St Edwards School.

Sood named HPSEB chief
Shimla, February 12
Senior IAS officer S.K. Sood took over as Chairman of the HP State Electricity Board here today.
The post had been lying vacant since October last when the High Court stayed the government notification granting extension to previous incumbent Shamsher
Singh. Sood has been given this appointment on his return from central deputation. He will also function as principal adviser, industries and tourism.

S.K. Sood

Severe frost brings down night temperature
Shimla, February 12
Severe frost is pulling down night temperatures across the state, which is recording night temperatures, two to four degrees below normal.
The night temperature at Shimla fell by a few notches to stand at -0.7°C.

Rs 4.2 lakh goes missing from ATM in Sanjauli
Shimla, February 12
In a first-of-its-kind incident, Rs 4.20 lakh has gone missing from an ATM of the State Bank of Patiala in
Sanjauli. According to the police, the bank staff today reported this amount missing from the ATM, where they had deposited cash on Saturday.

Industrial worker alleges rape
Solan, February 12
An 18-year-old girl employed with JVJ Perfumes located at Makhnu Majra in the Baddi industrial area was allegedly raped by the owner and the manager of the firm last evening.

Doc misbehaves, complaint forwarded to Bindal
Nurpur, February 12
The alleged misbehaviour of a specialist doctor in a disability camp organised by the state Health Department here in the civil hospital has sparked off a lot of resentment.

Koldam lake may feed water scheme
Bilaspur, February 12
Forest minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that the government is working on a Rs 80- crore drinking water supply scheme for areas from Harnoda to Bilaspur town in the Bilaspur Sadar constituency and also to Kothipura in the Kot Kehloor constituency.

ISO certification
Shimla, February 12
The 412-MW Rampur Hydroelectric projects being executed by the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam has been awarded the ISO 9001 :2000 certification for quality management systems in the construction of tunnel and power house.

Freedom fighter dead
Solan, February 12
Freedom fighter Prem Chand Premi (86), who played a crucial role in the Prajamandal Movement, died at the PGI Chandigarh after protracted illness.

Ghordor (Kullu), February 12
Villagers, including apple orchardists, in the valley are up in arms against the high-tension 220-kv transmission line being installed by Allian and Duhangan (AD) hydropower company. It will be a life hazard and affect the beauty and tourism potential of the valley, villagers claim. Over 10,000 trees will have to be felled, while over 40,000 will be affected.

The company has allegedly already erected over 350 towers without any clearance from the Central Environment and Forests Ministry. It needs to install 150 more towers to complete the project. The 180-km transmission line will run from Prini powerhouse in Kullu to the Powergrid substation at Nalagarh.

Anger is brewing among villagers of Prini, Shuru, Sajla, Karzan, Haripur, Naggar, Ghordor etc. that might take the shape of a rebellion against the company.

They say, “Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal should personally intervene and direct the company to either shift the line from the present course along the forest-line above villages and orchards or towards the riverside where it will pass over no residential buildings or agricultural land.”

“The transmission line will be a constant life hazard as there will always be a chance of electrocution while plucking fruits and spraying insecticides on trees,” said Raghuraj Rana, panch of Naggar ward.

Gram panchayat pardhan Karzan Keshav Chand said, “We had taken up the issue with the CM while he was at Haripur a few days ago, but there is no action so far. We have given a written complaint to the power company, but they are neither shifting the line nor raising the height of towers.”

Anita Kumari, a folk singer whose house and orchard lies right under the transmission line, said they would never allow the transmission line there as it would be a lifelong life hazard. “The line passes over orchards and houses but company has no concern for the security of villagers,” said Khemraj Thakur, a resident of Prini village.

The farmers said the company was bribing the poor and obliging the high and mighty. The line was diverted at the behest of Sudhanshu Maharaj, whose centre was along the alignment proposed earlier, but who will speak up for the poor voiceless villagers?” they rued.

Discontent is brewing against the Rajasthan and Spinning Mills, the executing agency of the project, and the government’s alleged indifferent attitude. They have put up posters alerting villagers on the impending danger of the high-voltage line.

Company’s project in charge Ashok Joshi refused to come on record on the issue, but the in charge of AD transmission line D. Panikar claimed the company had erected towers on private land and not on the government or forestland for which they required clearance from the Central Government.

“We have paid compensation to farmers for erecting towers and maintained a mandatory clearance of over 7.15 m from the ground to the lowest link as per the Act. We have asked villagers to cut down trees for which compensation has been paid,” he claimed.

Conservator of forests, Kullu, S.S. Negi said the file relating to the cutting down of over 3,600 trees in Kullu circle was awaiting clearance and company would have to pay Rs 81 crore as compensation. No tower had been raised on the forestland so far, he said.

In the Mandi forest circle, over 3,991 trees would be cut down out of over 19,500 trees that would be affected in a forest area of over 96 hectare. The rest of the trees would be cut down in Bilaspur and Solan circles to make way for the transmission line, forest officials said.

Conservator (Mandi circle) B.D. Suyal said the file was yet to be cleared. “A joint inspection has been completed. The company has not been allowed to raise towers on the forestland as clearance has yet to come,” he added.

Shimla, February 12
In order to ensure that all irrigation and drinking water schemes see the light of the day, the government has decided that foundation stones would be laid only after budgetary provision is made for the purpose.

The decision has been taken by IPH minister Ravinder Singh Ravi to ensure that announcements are made for any irrigation or drinking water scheme only after budgetary allocation has been made. Directions have been issued to all officers to ensure that not a single foundation stone should be laid till budgetary allocation for the scheme is made. There have been several instances where the foundation stones are placed and even after several years there is no further progress for want of funds.

In fact, IPH officials have been directed not to comply with the orders of the ministers or MLAs as far as the laying of foundation stones is concerned if budgetary allocation is awaited.

The minister stressed that timely completion of schemes would be ensured, adding that all time-bound schemes would be completed by March 31. “The Shimla Giri water scheme will be dedicated to the people of the capital town on April 13 as the trial run is on,” he informed.

He added that the Solan Giri water scheme would be dedicated to the people on March 31 and directions had been issued to the officials to ensure that the deadlines in both cases were met. “The teething problems which are faced in any scheme are being addressed so that they can be made operational at the earliest,” he said.

Ravi said he had issued orders that any public tap in urban or rural areas which was being used by an individual for private use would be converted into a private connection. “The exercise has already been started from my home constituency of Thural in Kangra and this will later be extended to the entire state,” he said.

Shimla, February 12
The government today ordered the transfer of 47 Himachal Police Service (HPS) officers.

Saju Ram Rana, ASP, Chamba, will go as such to Solan while Rajender Singh Bhatia, ASP, Shimla, has been posted as ASP (Railway and Traffic), Shimla. Solan ASP Ajay Bodh has been transferred as ASP, Second Indian Reserve Battalion, Sakoh, and Virender Sharma, ASP, Third Battalion Pandoh, as ASP (CID) and Crime at Shimla.

Theog SDPO Ravinder Kumar Sharma would be new ASP, Third Battalion, while Nahan DSP Mohinder Singh has been transferred as Shimla ASP.

Shimla, February 12
The government today ordered the transfer of two IAS officers. C. Palrasu has been posted as Director, Elementary Education, in place of B.M. Nanta. He was presently ADC, Mandi, awaiting posting. Nanta has been posted as Secretary, HP State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Shimla, February 12
The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned a new India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for Himachal along with a financial assistance of Rs 12.50 crore as the raising cost.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had taken up the matter for raising the fourth IRB with Union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil after assuming office. The Chief Minister said that 1,000 posts of different categories would be created.

He said the Centre would provide Rs 8 crore as capital cost for meeting the infrastructure expenditure, saying that this would be in the shape of a grant-in-aid from funds allotted under security-related expenditure.

Dhumal said all vacancies in the battalion would be filled by January, 2010. “The state government will bear the annual recurring expenditure and also the balance of capital nature for providing the basic infrastructure for the battalion,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the battalion would be made available to the Centre to tackle the law and order problem in any part of the country.

As many as 250 of the thatal strength of constables of the battalion will be trained as a special task force with special capabilities to work in militancy-affected areas,” he said.

He further added that a selection board comprising representatives of the CRPF would be constituted to make recruitment for the battalion.

Kangra, February 12
Hundreds of people of this town and those living in the outskirts here were allegedly cheated and fraudulently deprived of cash by a Tamil Nadu based group. They had established a trade centre in the Jayanti Vihar locality of the town, which was found, closed today leaving nearly 500 investors in a lurch.

Jeet Singh Thakur, deputy superintendent of police said today that a firm named ‘Om Sai Traders’ was set up by some persons from Tamil Nadu in the Jayanti Vihar locality of the town early this year and attracted huge number of investors. He said according to reports, the said firm was asking people to pay cash in advance for steel goods, TVs, household goods, wooden furniture and other articles, which the firm was supplying on half of the normal rates.

According to reports, the firm was even making the invested amount double within a fortnight and made such payments to some investors to attract more people for the investment.

The delivery of the goods was made after 15 days after the cash payment made by the party. The firm supplied desired goods to first lot of people who were further lured to invest more.

This morning both shops of the firm were found closed and people started gathering outside the firm outlet. Nearly, 500 persons were allegedly duped by the firm and deprived of lakhs of rupees. Actual amount, which the firm management decamped with, could not be estimated as yet, the police said. Not even a single person came forward for the registration of the case so far, the DSP said.

He said earlier the police had tried to verify there whereabouts but the firm people approached the HP High Court and said that the police was harassing them and the district police had to file the reply in this connection.

He said Kangra police has not received any confirmation of their names and residential addresses from Tamil Nadu police, which was sent for their verification.

Singh said the police has no documentary proofs in hand as yet, to register a case suo moto. He said the police was verifying the facts and waiting for the complainants who were cheated by the firm. He, however, said the investigation has started and the police was looking for documentary evidences.

According to reports, one such firm decamped with Rs 1 crore from Palampur and Rs 69 lakh from Chamba recently and this was a third incident in recent days. The people demand that the state government should ban setting up of such trade centres, which deprive people of their hard earned money.

Solan, February 12
The four-day strike of three-wheeler operators ended today with their union agreeing to ply vehicles after receiving an assurance from the administration. Though the negotiations between the union and the administration were under way to chalk out an amicable solution, auto operators were seen carrying four passengers as against the prescribed norm of three.

Officials said 275 three-wheelers were involved in the strike. It had become difficult to chalk out a permanent solution as the union pressed for either 50 per cent enhancement in fares after the 2005 rates or insisted that they be allowed to carry four passengers.

Officials said they were trying to work out the cost, including the cost of fuel, wear and tear, spare parts per km so as to ensure that no one suffered losses. It was, however, also important to ensure that the people did not suffer on account of higher fares. They added all major routes had been taken into consideration and it had been made clear to them that four passengers were not permissible under the registration conditions.

Meanwhile, the let-off in the strike today eased the plight of the common man who suffered the most all these days. People, however, rued that auto-rickshaw operators were trying to dictate terms. The manner in which they strike work every now and then was an unhealthy trend, they said.

Shimla, February 12
Two top defence officers hailing from the city have been awarded the Param Vishista Sewa Medal (PVSM) this year.

Both, Lieut-Gen Hardev Singh Lidder and Air Marshal Jai Krishan Gupta, are of the same age and alumni of St Edwards School. The two contemporaries were brilliant in studies at the school level and had outstanding careers in defence services. Both had training at Pune. While Gupta completed his MBBS degree from the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Lidder had his training at National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla.

At present Lidder is Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Gupta is the Director General of Medical Services (Air).

Shimla, February 12
Senior IAS officer S.K. Sood took over as Chairman of the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) here today.

The post had been lying vacant since October last when the High Court stayed the government notification granting extension to previous incumbent Shamsher
Singh.

Sood has been given this appointment on his return from central deputation. He will also function as principal adviser, industries and tourism.

A 1971-batch officer Sood has held several important assignments, including director- general, supply and disposal, in the Union Ministry of Commerce and as a joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

In the state too he held the important positions of secretary, finance, and secretary, PWD. He hails from the famous pilgrim town of Jwalalmukhi in Kangra district.

Shimla, February 12
Severe frost is pulling down night temperatures across the state, which is recording night temperatures, two to four degrees below normal.

The night temperature at Shimla fell by a few notches to stand at -0.7°C.

The Met office said this was about four degrees below normal for this period of the year, while Keylong recorded the minimum temperatures of -15.4°C.

The minimum temperature at Sundernagar fell to 0°C as against 2.1°C recorded yesterday, while Bhuntar recorded 1°C, Dharamsala 1.7°C, Una 1.2°C.

It said the night temperature at the famous tourist resort of Manali rose appreciably to 1.6°C as compared to -5.2°C recorded yesterday.

Shimla, Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded the maximum temperatures of 9.6°C, 17.9°C and 17°C respectively, while it rose by a few notches to stand at 13.4°C as compared to 12.8°C recorded yesterday.

The Met office said higher altitude areas of Kinnuar district experienced mild intermittent snow last night even as bright sunshine greeted the people of the district during the day.

Meanwhile, official sources said helicopter was likely to undertake three flights to Lahaul-Spiti district tomorrow to ferry local people, including patients too and fro.

However, the flight would only be undertaken only if the weather permitted, the sources added. The sky was mainly clear across the state and the Met office has predicted another bright and a sunny day tomorrow.
— UNI

Shimla, February 12
In a first-of-its-kind incident, Rs 4.20 lakh has gone missing from an ATM of the State Bank of Patiala in Sanjauli.

According to the police, the bank staff today reported this amount missing from the ATM, where they had deposited cash on Saturday.

Though there was no tampering with the machine or any other signs of outside interference the bank staff found that the cash was less by Rs 4.20 lakh.

A team of forensic experts visited the ATM today to figure out how the cash has gone missing.

Meanwhile, the local police has arrested two persons, Anup and Pradeep Kumar, in connection with two thefts in the Sanjauli area. The police recovered a computer, television, mobile and other household goods from the two.

Solan, February 12
An 18-year-old girl employed with JVJ Perfumes located at Makhnu Majra in the Baddi industrial area was allegedly raped by the owner and the manager of the firm last evening.

The girl, who hails from West Bengal, was residing at Baddi with her family. She told the police that she was offered lift by her unit owner, Sandeep Kumar, yesterday afternoon while going back home after finishing her shift at the unit.

However, she was taken to a flat in Amarvati Enclave and offered a cold drink. After consuming the drink, she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she found unit’s purchase manager Rajiv Kapur in the room. On coming back home, she narrated the incident to her family members who lodged a report with the police.

Rajiv Kapur was arrested from the unit premises this morning while search was on to trace unit owner Sandeep Kumar.

A case under Sections 376 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. SHO Madan Kant Sharma said the medical report of the girl was awaited.

Nurpur, February 12
The alleged misbehaviour of a specialist doctor in a disability camp organised by the state Health Department here in the civil hospital has sparked off a lot of resentment.

According to information, Bakhridh, son of Ratan Chand of Thora village brought his eight-year-old disabled son Deepak in the disability camp for issuance of disability certificate.

As soon as he entered the OPD for examination of his son’s disability the doctor allegedly misbehaved and warned to thrash him.

In his complaint to the CMO Kangra he has demanded action against the erring doctor. In this connection when the hospital in charge cum SMO Dr Subash Thakur was contacted he admitted that he had received a written complaint, which was being forwarded to the higher-up for departmental action.

Meanwhile, the complainant also approached the local MLA Rakesh Pathania who took up the matter with the state health minister Rajiv Bindal who assured a departmental action would be taken within two days.

Bilaspur, February 12
Forest minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that the government is working on a Rs 80- crore drinking water supply scheme for areas from Harnoda to Bilaspur town in the Bilaspur Sadar constituency and also to Kothipura in the Kot Kehloor constituency.

Addressing a series of public meetings in connection with his public contact programme at Balh-Bhulana, Talwad and Tared, near here, today, Nadda said that IPH Department has prepared a plan for bringing drinking water from the lake to be formed soon due to the Koldam project on the Sutlej river in the Harnoda area.

Shimla, February 12
The 412-MW Rampur Hydroelectric projects being executed by the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam has been awarded the ISO 9001 :2000 certification for quality management systems in the construction of tunnel and power house.

The corporate office of the company has already been certified as ISO 9001:2000 and its Nathpa-Jhakri power station conforms to the ISO 14001 standards.

Solan, February 12
Freedom fighter Prem Chand Premi (86), who played a crucial role in the Prajamandal Movement, died at the PGI Chandigarh after protracted illness. He is survived by wife Sheela Devi, two sons (journalist Manmohan Singh and DSP Satish Kumar) and daughter Usha Dhaliwal.